Research Spotlight: Organic Solar using Sputter and Thermal Processes

Yuelin Peng is a PHD student in the chemistry department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her research focus is in novel organic electronics, including flexible and transparent solar cell arrays. We recently spoke with her about her research, and how she accomplishes it.

“When I was a child I enjoyed making things, creating things with my hands. That created a desire in me to follow a career in science and engineering. Both of my parents are teachers and they encouraged me quite a bit.”

After doing her undergrad in China, then a masters in electrical engineering in the United States, she began her PHD with Trisha Andrew in the chemistry department at UW Madison. “Trisha inspires me in my research. Before I came into this department, I had very little knowledge in organic materials and organic devices. Trisha showed me how awesome this area is and I knew this is what I wanted to do. I can help create technology that could change the world.”

Peng uses a dual-chamber Angstrom physical vapor deposition system to accomplish her research. “I use sputter deposition to deposit the metal oxide materials to make the insulation layers of the bottom electrode of the device. I use the thermal evaporator for the organic layers and the top electrode. The Angstrom Evaporator is awesome. It is the essential equipment I use to create my photovoltaic devices. I use the Angstrom system for every single layer. The uniformity is great, and we can precisely control the thickness down to a single Angstrom. The automation is excellent.

Sometimes we need to deposit over ten layers, and we don’t have to stand by the system all day; we can just program it and get work done in the office for the day, letting the system run. Then we just go pick up the samples when they’re done.”

“I also really appreciate the help from your customer service team. I’m the first student in this lab, and the first person using the Angstrom system. At the beginning of my research, I had many questions about the deposition processes and system. They always replied very quickly, and with very detailed answers to my questions. The Angstrom team know this system extremely well, and were easily able to solve my problems.”

To learn more about this Research Group, please click here.

Having arrived in Brazil, our partner’s logistics team takes the lead, taking it out of the wooden box so that it can fit through the door of the facility. The journey resulted in the standard small bumps and dents that are categorized and logged so that our installation team can quickly and effectively get the system up and running, which they do.

Finally, all that’s left to do is to fabricate some superconducting circuits, and further the field of quantum computing. Our partners at Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Fisicas (CBPF) expressed their excitement at having gained the capabilities  of partnering with us in this translated LinkedIn post:

 

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the arrival of the newest equipment, from Angstrom Engineering, to the Quantum Technologies Laboratory of CBPF. This laboratory is complementary to Labnano, one of the strategic laboratories of SisNANO – the National System of Nanotechnology Laboratories of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

SisNANO is comprised of a set of laboratories focused on research, development and innovation (RD&I) in nanosciences and nanotechnologies, with the essential characteristic of being multi-user and open access to public and private institutions.

Acquired with funding from Finep and support from MCTI, the new equipment will allow CBPF to advance in the manufacture of superconducting quantum nanodevices, such as Josephson junctions and SQUIDS. These devices are essential for the development of future quantum chips, which promise to transform areas such as computing, secure communication and metrology.

The impact of this advance is also connected to related projects funded by FAPERJ, CNPq and Petrobras, consolidating a robust research ecosystem in Brazil.

This achievement reinforces the commitment of CBPF and MCTI to leading the frontier of scientific research, contributing to enabling the country to compete in a global scenario marked by disruptive and strategic advances.

We would like to thank the institutions involved and the professionals who made this achievement possible. We invite the scientific, technological and industrial community to closely monitor the transformative results that this new infrastructure will provide.